Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
What is refeeding?
Refeeding syndrome can develop when someone who is malnourished begins to eat again. The syndrome occurs because of the reintroduction of glucose, or sugar. As the body digests and metabolizes food again, this can cause sudden shifts in the balance of electrolytes and fluids. These shifts can cause severe complications, and the syndrome can be fatal.
It may take as little as five consecutive days of malnutrition for a person to be at risk of refeeding syndrome. The disease can be treated and can be stopped if doctors notice warning signs early.
Symptoms of the condition typically become evident within a few days of malnourishment diagnosis.
What are the causes of refeeding syndrome?
When a person doesn’t eat enough, he or she will easily go into starvation mode and become malnourished.
The ability to store food is seriously pimpaired after a prolonged period of famine.
A malnourished body produces less insulin, and this reduces carbohydrate development.
When the body has insufficient carbohydrates, it uses nutrition from the fat stores and stored proteins.
When the body tends to depend on fat and protein stores over time this will alter the electrolyte balance. Vitamin and electrolyte levels are rising as the body continues to adjust to the mode of starvation. The levels of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and thiamine are usually impacted.
Once food is reintroduced the body no longer has to rely on fat and protein stores to produce energy.
Refeeding therefore requires an sudden metabolism change. It occurs with an rise in glucose, and the body responds with more insulin secretion. It will result in a lack of electrolytes, including phosphorous.
Refeeding syndrome may cause hypophosphatemia, which is a phosphorus deficiency disease. This may also cause other essential electrolytes to have low levels.
The adverse effects of refeeding syndrome are common, and may include:
- heart
- lungs
- kidneys
- blood
- muscles
- digestion
- nervous system
If doctors are unable to treat the syndrome, it can be fatal.
Who is at risk?
Refeeding syndrome affects people who do not receive enough nutrition.
This may be because of:
- starvation
- malnourishment
- extreme diets
- fasting
- famine
The following medical conditions can also increase the risk of developing refeeding syndrome:
- anorexia
- cancer
- alcoholism
- problems swallowing, or dysphagia
- inflammatory bowel disease
- celiac disease
- depression
- painful conditions affecting the mouth
- uncontrolled diabetes
Undergoing particular surgeries, especially weight loss surgeries, can also increase a person’s risk.
Symptoms
Electrolytes play a very important role in the body. The most common problem when the balance is distorted is hypophosphatemia which is a lack of phosphorus.
Symptoms of hypophosphatemia include:
- confusion or hesitation
- seizures
- muscle breakdown
- neuromuscular problems
- acute heart failure
Refeeding syndrome may also cause magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesemia is the term for hazardously low magnesium levels.
Signs and symptoms of hypomagnesemia include:
- low calcium levels, or hypocalcemia
- low potassium levels, or hypokalemia
- weakness
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- abnormal heart rhythms
Refeeding syndrome can also cause a dangerously low fall in potassium levels. It might lead to:
- fatigue
- weakness
- excessive urination
- breathing problems, such as respiratory depression
- heart problems, such as cardiac arrest
- ileus, which involves a blockage in the intestines
- paralysis
Other symptoms include:
- hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar
- mental problems, such as confusion
- abnormal serum sodium levels
- fluid retention
- muscle weakness
In some cases a deficiency in potassium can lead to a coma or death.
Doctors can identify people at risk for refeeding syndrome, but it can’t be known if a person will develop it. It’s important to try to keep the condition from developing.
Risk factors
Those who have previously died of starvation have the greatest chance of developing refeeding syndrome.
If a individual has an extremely low index of body mass, the risk is high.
People who have lost weight quickly recently, or who had little to no food before beginning the refeeding cycle are also at substantial risk.
Other people at risk include:
- children or adolescents with severely restricted calorie intakes, when this occurs with vomiting or laxative misuse
- children or adolescents with a history of refeeding syndrome
- frail individuals with multiple medical problems
Regardless of age, a person is at high risk if they have:
- a BMI of less than 16
- lost more than 15 percent of their body weight unintentionally in the past 3–6 months
- consumed minimal food over the past 10 consecutive days or more
- low levels of serum phosphate, potassium, or magnesium
Two or more of the following issues also increases the risk of developing refeeding syndrome:
- a BMI of less than 18.5
- unintentionally losing 10 percent of body weight in the past 3–6 months
- consuming little or no food in the past 5 consecutive days or more
- a history of alcoholism or drug abuse
- receiving some treatments, such as insulin, diuretics, chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy, and antacids
Anyone suspecting having refeeding syndrome should receive urgent medical attention.
What are the treatment options?
People with refeeding syndrome need to get back to normal electrolyte levels. This can be done by doctors removing electrolytes, normally intravenously.
Vitamin replacement, such as thiamine, can also help to relieve other symptoms. A person will need a continuous replacement of vitamins and electrolytes before the levels stabilize.
The refeeding process can also be delayed by doctors to help a person relax and heal.
In a hospital the person will require continuous observation. Doctors can use procedures to track electrolyte levels and body functions, including urine and blood samples.
Recovery
Times of recovery differ depending on the severity of the disease and malnutrition.
Treatment can last for up to 10 days and follow up can last.
When a person has complications or underlying medical conditions, treatment may lead to longer periods of recovery.
Can it be prevented?
The most effective way to tackle refeeding syndrome is by avoidance.
Health care workers who are conscious of warning signs and risk factors are better able to handle people suffering from malnourishment.
Researchers found in 2013 that 4 percent had refeeding syndrome in a wide group of people being fed intravenously in the UK. The authors noted that about half of the at-risk patients had the risk identified by physicians.
Healthcare professionals may prevent the syndrome of refeeding through:
- quickly identifying those at risk
- adapting refeeding programs
- monitoring patients continuously once treatment has begun
Malnourishment can result when food intake is severely limited. This may occur in people with:
- depression
- dysphagia
- alcoholism and drug use
- anorexia nervosa
- uncontrolled diabetes
Surgery and diseases such as cancer can contribute to increased metabolic demands, which can contribute to malnutrition.
In addition, malnutrition may occur when the body no longer absorbs nutrients as it should. It may be caused by disorders like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
High risk patients with malnutrition and refeeding syndrome need to be detected and treated. Guidelines note that prior to refeeding, doctors would assess an individual’s alcohol consumption, diet, weight changes, and psychological health.
Takeaway
Refeeding syndrome may occur after a time of starvation or malnutrition, when food is reintroduced too quickly. This can lead to electrolyte imbalances and severe, possibly fatal complications.
The best way to combat the refeeding syndrome is by finding and treating people at risk. People with the syndrome will recover early on when they undergo care. Might help with education and increased knowledge of the disease.
Rhinophyma is a skin condition that causes the nose to expand. Lumpy, thicker skin and fractured blood vessels are some of the other signs.
Males are far more likely than females to get the condition, which usually occurs between the ages of 50 and 70.
Researchers aren’t sure what causes it, but they do know that acne rosacea, which causes inflammatory pimple breakouts, is a precursor.
When acne rosacea advances to rhinophyma, the skin around the nose swells and the tip of the nose becomes larger. A diagnosis is made based on this distinctive appearance.
In the early stages, medicines are used, but in the latter stages, surgery is required. This is due to the possibility of damaged tissue obstructing the airways. The technique is safe and effective at smoothing or removing rough, thickened patches of skin.
Continue reading to find out more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition.
Causes of rhinophyma
Rhinophyma Laser resurfacing treatment is one of the ways to treat Rhinophyma, this procedure uses lasers to resurface and reshape the nose. getty images 
Rhinophyma Rhinophyma is caused by chronic inflammation and chronic untreated rosacea. James Heilman, MD/Wikimedia Commons 
Rhinophyma Rhinophyma is a skin condition which presents as the nose becoming large, red and puffy. M. Sand, D. Sand, C. Thrandorf, V. Paech, P. Altmeyer, F. G. Bechara/Wikimedia Commons
Rhinophyma is characterized by an increase in the number of sebaceous glands (oil glands) and underlying connective tissues in the face. According to studies from 2021, the actual cause is still unknown, and various causes could be involved. A variety of disorders affecting the immune system, nerves, and blood arteries are included.
Acne rosacea, a long-term skin condition more common in women, is the prelude to rhinophyma. Rhinophyma develops in a subset of acne rosacea people.
Rhinophyma is more common in men, with a male-to-female ratio ranging from 5:1 to 30:1, and it usually develops in people between the ages of 50 and 70. Scientists believe that male hormones raise the danger because of the higher prevalence in men.
Some people believe that drinking alcohol causes the condition, however studies show that this is not the case. However, both alcohol and caffeine enlarge blood vessels briefly, aggravating rhinophyma.
In its early beginnings
According to evidence, rhinophyma begins as “pre-rosacea,” with face flushing being the only symptom.
The condition progresses to vascular rosacea, which is characterized by enlarged blood vessels and redness. Acne rosacea causes later, resulting in inflammatory outbreaks.
Finally, acne rosacea progresses to late-stage rosacea, which includes rhinophyma.
Symptoms
The first symptom of rosacea is frequently excessive face flushing. If it evolves to rhinophyma, a person may experience the following symptoms:
- thickened skin on the nose and elsewhere on the face
- expansion of the tip of the nose
- a bumpy texture on areas of the face
- enlarged pores
- oily skin
The condition may restrict the airways at this moment. In addition, because the fluid from the sebaceous glands thickens and can contain bacteria, persistent infection is common.
The amount of sebaceous glands and connective tissue alterations grow with time, resulting in increasing deformity.
Furthermore, there is a relation to cancer. Basal cell carcinoma affects 3–10% of people with rhinophyma, despite the fact that the condition is initially benign.
Diagnosis
Rhinophyma is often diagnosed with a visual examination due to its distinctive look.
The presence of at least one primary feature and at least one secondary feature is used by doctors to make a diagnosis.
The following are the main characteristics:
- blushing
- persistent redness
- pustules, small pimples containing pus
- papules — small, solid pimples that are usually inflamed but do not produce pus
- broken or dilated blood vessels near the skin’s surface
Secondary features include:
- roughened patches of skin on the face
- swelling
- burning or stinging areas of the skin
- eye symptoms, such as watery eyes or swelling of the eyelids
- marked thickening of skin or excess tissue
- these symptoms elsewhere on the body
Treatment
There are nonsurgical and surgical options available.
Non-surgical options
Certain drugs appear to be beneficial, according to the findings. Topical metronidazole (Metrocream) is one option for reducing skin inflammation by preventing the production of reactive oxygen species.
Isotretinoin, a medicine that shrinks the sebaceous glands and reduces the amount of oil they produce, is another choice. If a person wants surgery, however, they must stop taking this drug.
Surgical intervention
Advanced rhinophyma necessitates surgical removal of the afflicted tissue. A report published in 2020 describes a five-step surgical procedure for rhinophyma that is both safe and effective:
- Dermabrasion: A motorized device resurfaces the skin to facilitate the next steps.
- Dermaplaning: This involves removing affected tissue without directly cutting it. It prepares the skin’s surface for the third step.
- Debulking: The surgeon uses curved scissors to cut away the thickened skin. They also take samples of any areas that may be malignant and send them to a lab for analysis.
- Electrocautery: This involves using heat to destroy the affected tissue.
- Laser use: This final step seals and micro-contours the wound.
Although little data suggests that rhinophyma can recur following surgery, few long-term studies have been conducted.
Conclusion
A person with rhinophyma may suffer significant face flushing in the early stages. Swollen blood vessels and acne-like blemishes occur as the condition worsens.
Later on, the nasal skin thickens and the tip of the nose expands. Doctors diagnose rhinophyma at this point. It appears to be harmless at first, but it has the potential to obstruct airways and raise the risk of skin cancer.
Surgical and drug-based treatments can help, although there is limited evidence that the condition will reoccur after surgery.
Sources
- https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/ocular-rosacea-facts
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7339328/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544373/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322166
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4426765/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5828925/
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rosacea/what-is/symptoms
Cannabis, generally known as marijuana, is a psychoactive narcotic that many people use for recreational purposes as well as for its alleged medicinal benefits. But what do the most recent studies have to say about it? Do the risks outweigh the advantages?
At the time of writing, 36 states and four territories in the United States had legalized cannabis-derived products for medicinal use. In addition, cannabis is legal for recreational use in 18 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia.
Although many people interchangeably use the terms “cannabis” and “marijuana,” the latter has racist roots and implications dating back nearly a century.
According to the Pew Research Center, nine out of ten Americans support legalizing marijuana in some manner. In the same study, 18% of Americans, or 48.2 million people, said they had used cannabis in the previous year, with 11% indicating they had done so in the previous month. Only 46% of those polled said they’ve ever tried cannabis.
People have used cannabis for at least 5,000 years, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). And, while overall cannabis use remains constant in the broader population, it is increasing among college students. In 2020, 44% of them said they had used cannabis in the previous year, the highest percentage in over 35 years.
Many people clearly appreciate the euphoric effects of cannabis and use it for recreational purposes. According to the most recent figures, there are 22.2 million recreational users in the United States. Meanwhile, the number of people who use medical cannabis is estimated to be over 5.4 million.
Cannabis research in the U.S.
Cannabis is currently classified as a Schedule I restricted substance in the United States. A substance must have “no currently recognised medicinal use and a high potential for abuse” to be classified at this category.
It’s a contentious classification because it lumps this drug along with heroin, methaqualone, LSD, and MDMA (ecstasy).
This has made doing rigorous clinical cannabis research in the United States challenging, and it might be difficult for the average person to find conclusive information about the health effects of cannabis.
However, with so many states legalizing cannabis, research is picking up speed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed its support for clinical trials of medications derived from cannabis components.
Because the FDA is responsible for the research and safety of medical medicines, it has not considered the health consequences of recreational cannabis.
“They have one foot on the accelerator and another on the brake,” Dr. Tom Curran of Upstate Medical University in New York told Medical News Today of the FDA’s position.
Until recently, all cannabis used in research in the United States came from a single source: a growing facility at the University of Mississippi.
The value of using cannabis for research has been questioned by certain specialists. Dr. Sue Sisley, a cannabis researcher, described it as “anemic greenish powder” and said it’s “extremely tough to overcome the placebo effect when you have anything that diluted,” according to NPR.
The cannabis grown at the university is less than half as powerful as the average cannabis accessible today, and even less in the case of extracts like edibles.
As a result, any research based on the University of Mississippi’s research stock may underreport its impacts, whether favorable or negative, increasing to the uncertainty of current studies. As a result, the federal National Institute on Drug Abuse has been in the midst of a lengthy contracting procedure with different vendors since May.
The following institutions, according to Dr. Curran, have publicly called for the removal of such barriers to high-quality cannabis research:
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine
- New England Journal of Medicine
- American Medical Student Association
- American Nurses Association
- American Public Health Association
Medical cannabis research: In search of answers
Whether a person wants to use cannabis for recreational purposes or for medical reasons, it’s natural to want to know if it’s safe to do so. Medical cannabis research, which assesses the advantages and hazards of the drug, is the best source of such knowledge.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) undertook a review in 2017 that looked at over 10,000 scientific publications on the medical benefits and side effects of cannabis that were published in 2016. This study is still the most detailed on the health consequences of marijuana.
Researchers conducted a similar analysis with data from 2016 to 2019 in 2021. “We identified few recent studies completed inside U.S. populations [that] were of considerable rigor and quality to advance the evidence base for numerous clinical disorders,” they concluded.
In this article, we examine the most recent trustworthy studies on cannabis’ medical benefits to determine its health benefits and hazards, in an attempt to answer what appears to be a straightforward question: is cannabis good or bad?
CBD vs. Cannabis
Before we go any further, let’s clear up a common misunderstanding: what is the relationship between cannabis and CBD, both of which are derived from the same plant, Cannabis sativa? Is it possible that they are the same thing?
No, they are not.
There are 450 compounds in Cannabis sativa, including a family of 80–100 molecules known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in the brain, which controls a number of functions such as mood, sleep, memory, and appetite.
The following are the major cannabinoids found in the plant:
- delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis
- cannabidiol (CBD), which is believed to be anti-psychoactive and may moderate or control anxiety, chronic pain, sleep issues, and addictive impulses
When people refer to cannabis, they are referring to both THC and cannabidiol, as well as any other compound of the cannabis sativa plant.
The FDA has so far approved four medications containing cannabinoids:
- Epidiolex contains a purified form of CBD and treats seizures associated with two types of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndromand Dravet syndrome.
- Marinol and Syndros contain synthetic THC, or dronabinol, and treat post-cancer chemotherapy nausea and vomiting.
- Cesamet contains synthetic nabilone, which is similar to THC and addresses appetite and weight loss in people with HIV.
Hemp is made up of Cannabis sativa plants with very little THC, and it is the source of a lot of CBD. According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2019, 14 percent of Americans consume CBD, with sales expected to reach $61 billion by 2027.
Many medical claims have been made in support of CBD, but many of them have yet to be clinically verified, owing to the challenges that cannabis research faces.
What are the medical advantages of marijuana?
Cannabis may be beneficial in the treatment of the following illnesses, according to research.
Pain that lasts a long time
The use of medical cannabis to relieve chronic pain was one of the subjects of the 2017 NAS research.
According to the findings, cannabis or cannabinoid-containing medications can effectively treat neuropathic pain caused by injured nerves.
Beyond that, “there is limited evidence that cannabis works to treat most types of acute or chronic pain,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Depression, PTSD, and social anxiety are all symptoms of depression.
Cannabis has been suggested as a possible treatment for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
While some have suggested that cannabis can be used as an antidepressant, a study published in 2020 found little evidence to support this theory – in fact, it concluded that the opposite is more likely the case.
The first FDA-approved, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial evaluating cannabis’ effectiveness in treating PTSD was released in March 2021.
It was found that veterans who smoked cannabis had no more improvement in the intensity of their PTSD symptoms than those who took a placebo.
Veterans who smoked cannabis, on the other hand, were 2.57 times more likely to no longer qualify as having PTSD, according to a nonplacebo study published in December 2020.
A study released in April 2021 that included eight small trials looking into the use of cannabis as a treatment for social anxiety concluded that there was insufficient evidence of its effectiveness as an anti-anxiety intervention. Regular cannabis users may be at a greater risk of social anxiety, according to a 2017 NAS study.
It’s also worth noting that, according to a 2017 study published in Clinical Psychology Review, cannabis is not suggested as a treatment for people suffering from psychotic disorders.
Alcoholism
In a randomized, controlled research conducted in 2021, it was shown that smoking cannabis on days when alcohol is drunk lowered the quantity of alcohol drank by a third and cut the number of binge-drinking days in half.
However, according to the 2017 NAS assessment, cannabis usage may increase the likelihood of hazardous use and dependency on other substances.
Cancer
Drugs like Marinol and Syndros, which include cannabinoids, have been shown to reduce nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy.
There has been and continues to be a significant amount of research into the use of cannabis in cancer treatment.
It appears to be able to stop cancer cells from growing in vitro and in animals, according to some promising data. Some evidence suggests, however, that cannabis components that kill one type of cancer may promote the growth of another.
Multiple sclerosis
At the time of writing, Nabiximols, a medicine combining equal parts THC and cannabidiol and sold around the world as Sativex, is in phase 3 clinical trials in the United States.
The drug is used as a second-line treatment for spasticity symptoms when initial multiple sclerosis medications are ineffective.
However, no clinical benefit from smoking cannabis for treating MS symptoms has been found thus far.
Epilepsy
As previously stated, Epidiolex has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
What are the medicinal dangers of marijuana?
Studies that have looked into unfavorable links between cannabis usage and health are on the other end of the spectrum.
Mental health issues
Anecdotal evidence suggests that consuming cannabis can assist people suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) manage their symptoms.
However, there is a growing body of research linking it to more severe bipolar episodes, as well as psychotic symptoms, rapid mood cycling, suicide attempts, a decrease in long-term BD remission, greater impairment, and overall poorer functioning.
Fortunately, these associations only endure as long as people smoke cannabis.
A June 2021 NIH research of persons aged 18–35 years discovered a clear link between cannabis use and increased suicide ideation and attempts, particularly among women. Whether or not the person was depressed before to using cannabis had no influence.
THC may cause schizophrenia and psychosis in people at risk, according to a meta-study of available studies published in 2020. There was some evidence that CBD can help with some illnesses’ symptoms.
The analyses’ main conclusion was that more research is needed to better understand the connection between cannabis and these illnesses.
In a 2017 research of people with schizophrenia and other psychoses, it was discovered that a history of cannabis usage was connected to increased performance on learning and memory tests.
Life choices
A study published in January 2021 by the University of Queensland looked into how using cannabis on a regular basis can alter people’s life. According to the findings, people who smoked daily or weekly were more likely to:
- partake in high risk alcohol consumption
- smoke cigarettes
- take other illicit drugs
- not be in a relationship at 35 years of age
- be depressed
- not have a job
Cannabis use disorder
While cannabis is not typically addictive, there is evidence that the more people use it, the more likely they are to develop a dependent on it, a condition known as “cannabis use disorder.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three out of every ten cannabis smokers develops the disorder, and this is especially true among young people.
Lung and testicular cancer
The 2017 NAS study found evidence of an increased risk of testicular cancer’s slow-growing seminoma subtype.
Other compounds in smoke, such as benzopyrene, benzanthracene, vinyl chlorides, phenols, and nitrosamines, may have contributed to this, according to more recent research.
The study suggests that more epidemiological research into the probable link to cannabis is needed, with smoke-free vaping as an ingestion vehicle being considered.
When cannabis is smoked rather than eaten or vaped, the same chemicals may increase the risk of lung cancer. The National Institute of Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health, on the other hand, reports that there is little persuasive evidence of a link between cannabis and lung cancer:
“While a few small, uncontrolled studies have suggested that heavy, regular [cannabis] smoking could increase [the] risk for respiratory cancers, well-designed population studies have failed to find an increased risk of lung cancer associated with [cannabis] use.”
Respiratory disease
Although regular cannabis use has been related to an increased risk of chronic cough, it is unclear if smoking cannabis affects lung function or raises the risk of COPD or asthma.
Is cannabis healthy for your health or dangerous for your health?
Both the health benefits and the negative consequences of cannabis have been documented. It’s also clear that some statements about the drug’s effects are exaggerated at best and incorrect at worst.
While many people enjoy smoking cannabis for recreational purposes, more and better study is clearly needed to properly comprehend its health implications.
Before taking cannabis, if you reside in a state where it is legal, you and your doctor should carefully assess the different claimed advantages and hazards, as well as how they apply to your diagnosis and health history.
Additionally, always see your doctor before starting any new medication.
Many people with migraine find that specific situations trigger their symptoms. Drinking alcohol is a trigger for some people with migraine. Although any type of alcohol can provoke a migraine, people who experience recurrent migraine attacks cite red wine as the most frequent reason.
Research suggests that people with migraine may also suffer comparable symptoms after a hangover. Reducing or eliminating alcohol may reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. It may also help reduce factors that tend to co-occur with drinking, such as dehydration and sleep deprivation.
Keep reading to understand more about the connection between migraine and headache.
Is alcohol capable of causing migraines?
Migraine is a form of neurological disorder. Although hereditary factors impact the chance of developing migraine, environmental triggers can cause episodes or increase their frequency.
Several studies show that alcohol, especially red wine, may cause migraine episodes.
In a 2018 research including 2,197 adults with migraine, 25% of the participants who had discontinued or always avoided drinking did so because alcohol induced migraine symptoms. More than a third of the subjects stated that alcohol had this impact, with roughly 78% indicating red wine as the most prevalent alcohol trigger.
A 2019 research questioned patients with migraine who consumed alcohol. Of the 1,547 individuals, 783 claimed that alcohol was a trigger, while 195 were not sure. People who experienced migraine with alcohol were more likely to suffer migraine with aura and to experience more migraine days and more frequent episodes. They were also more prone to drink vodka.
A predisposition for migraine may also play a role in hangovers, especially hangovers that induce migraine-like headaches. A 2014 study of 692 students, 95 of whom experienced migraine, indicated that individuals with migraine were more likely to suffer migraine-like symptoms during a hangover. However, these people were not more prone to other hangover symptoms.
Alcohol may also create other sorts of headaches. People who get a headache after drinking should not assume that it is a migraine, especially if they have symptoms associated with other forms of headaches. For example, a stress headache may induce pain in the neck or shoulders.
Other alcohol-related headaches
Migraine creates a unique form of headache that incorporates neurological symptoms such as light sensitivity and aura. Other sorts of headaches, including severe headaches, can occur as a result of alcohol intake.
Hangover headache
A headache is a frequent hangover symptom. Alcohol can provoke symptoms in persons with a headache disease, but it can also directly induce headaches.
A 2015 study shows that the inactivity of alcohol dehydrogenase 2, an enzyme that helps break down alcohol, can contribute to hangover headaches. However, the research author also notes that no one factor causes all hangover headaches.
Tension headache
A 2016 study emphasizes that drinking may induce a tension headache, especially if a person simultaneously suffers migraine. The research revealed that 21 percent of persons with migraine indicate that alcohol is a tension headache trigger, compared with just 2 percent of people without migraine.
Cluster headache
Alcohol may provoke cluster headaches. These headaches induce very strong pain that generally predominantly affects the region behind one eye. More than half of individuals who get cluster headaches indicate that alcohol is a trigger.
Dehydration headache
Alcohol increases urine, which can contribute to dehydration. Moreover, persons who drink alcohol may not drink as much water, exacerbating the water loss. Dehydration can induce headaches. It may also provoke headaches connected to headache diseases, such as migraine.
What alcohol to consume to avoid migraine attacks
Most research point to red wine as a prevalent headache trigger, particularly in those with migraine. These individuals typically report wine, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger.
However, a 2012 research denies this relationship. This prospective research looked at migraine diaries extending up to 90 days. Wine, beer, and spirits did not enhance the risk of migraine with aura, while sparkling wine did.
People who have hangovers that induce a migraine may desire to avoid alcohol with high amounts of congeners. These are compounds that the alcohol production process creates. Some study shows that congeners have a role in hangovers, however variables like as inflammation also contribute.
Brandy, red wine, and rum have the largest quantities of congeners, whereas gin and vodka have fewer of these compounds. However, a 2019 study reported greater rates of vodka use among drinkers with recurrent migraine symptoms. The reaction to alcohol varies from person to person, and there is no drink that certainly will not trigger a migraine or other headache.
Other migraine-prevention options
Identifying and limiting or eliminating common migraine triggers such as alcohol, dehydration, and specific meals is the first step in preventing migraine. For a few weeks, a person should keep a migraine diary to detect trends in their headache patterns.
Stress-related migraines may be relieved with relaxation techniques, and migraine episodes may feel less severe when they occur.
Migraine prophylaxis drugs such as topiramate (Topamax), divalproex (Depakote), or propranolol may be useful for people who suffer frequent migraine attacks (Inderal). They can talk to a doctor about these therapy alternatives.
People who suffer from migraines while or after drinking may consider limiting or eliminating alcohol from their diet. If they find this too difficult, they may be suffering from an alcohol use disorder, which need therapy.
Conclusion
Migraine attacks can range from minor inconveniences to complete debilitation. The most severe migraine headaches can last up to three days and render you unable to work. In rare cases, a migraine attack can persist much longer.
Migraine is a complicated disorder, and migraine-like symptoms can be caused by a variety of neurological conditions. As a result, whether you’re drinking or not, it’s critical to consult a doctor if you’re experiencing migraine symptoms or chronic headaches. Migraine headaches can be treated with the appropriate combination of medicines and lifestyle changes.
People who are unable to stop drinking should consult a physician about alcohol use disorder treatment, which is a serious but treatable problem.
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- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22671771/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064176/
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